While the world hails the former Portuguese enclave as an up-and-coming Las Vegas of the Orient, its residents wonder why the city is so successful.
'Our principal said it [the success] is because the Chinese central government strongly supports Macau,' said a student of the School for Labourers' Children, who declined to provide his name. 'But what did Macau people do to deserve this? What if one day the Chinese government decides not to support us?'
President Hu Jintao visited the school last December during his two-day trip to Macau to attend the handover anniversary celebrations.
But as 2005 kicked off, there was uncertainty in Macau, with the central government launching a high-profile campaign against mainland civil servants who gambled.
The massive crackdown forced the closure of casinos along the country's borders with North Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Burma, as well as internet betting sites, according to official Chinese media.
The campaign alarmed the local community, whose livelihood depends on casinos and tourism.
Nevertheless, teenagers said the fatter red packets they received this year clearly showed that the enclave was in the midst of an economic boom.
